Julie Keefe said that she has been a teacher for the past 43 years. Currently she is a fifth grade teacher at Horizon Elementary. She announced her plans to retire in January.

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A Pewaukee teacher got a big surprise visit on Monday from one of her former students: JJ Watt. The visit was broadcast on Facebook Live during the morning.

The reason he stopped by? Watt said he just wanted to wish his fourth grade teacher a happy retirement.

Julie Keefe said that she has been a teacher for the past 43 years. Currently she is a fifth grade teacher at Horizon Elementary. She announced her plans to retire in January.

She also said that she has known the Watt family for a long time.

"Since they were little, they were in our neighborhood. And then I had the family, the kids. We bonded. And then as he became a Badger and then an NFL player. I believed in his foundation," Keefe said.

In the Facebook video, Keefe shared memories with her students about Watt.

"When he was your age he looked up at me with those baby blues. And what he said to me, he said, 'I want to be a Badger'. I said 'Boy you're going to have to work hard'. 'I really want to do it'," Keefe said in the video.

"Look at him now," Keefe said.

Keefe said that's the support she tried to give every student. And JJ Watt clearly had not forgotten.

"And we also wanted to bring you and your husband down to Houston for the charity classic if you'd like to come down with us on Mother's Day weekend. I'd love you to be there," Watt said in the video.

"I would be honored," Keefe said.

Keefe offered these reflection on her teaching career:

"Love those kids when they come through your door. Love 'em, work hard, give 'em your all and they will succeed. You will succeed as a teacher. It's just one hand washes the other," Keefe said.

The game Watt invited Keefe to is the JJ Watt Charity Classic happening at Minutemaid Park in Houston in May. Keefe said she is excited for that because she's helped and volunteered with JJ Watt's foundation in the past.